Only business - nothing personal: Serbia prefers not only Russian helicopters
Serbian Airbus H-145. Source: bmpd.livejournal.com
Realpolitik Vučić
Serbia is definitely striving to become a regional helicopter power - thirty-one more will be purchased in addition to the 73 rotorcraft in service.
Within a couple of years, fifteen Mi-35s (of which 11 are second-hand), three Mi-17s and immediately 11 Airbus H-145s will come to the Serbian "aircraft" (the country's Air Force). For civilian needs, Vučić intends to buy two more Ka-32 helicopters from Russia, which the President of Serbia called "convincingly the best helicopters for fighting fires."
This was announced at the end of this January and leads to certain reflections.
At first glance, it seems that there is nothing criminal in this - after all, 20 helicopters are of Russian origin and may well be considered an example of the loyalty of fraternal Serbia.
However, Vucic announced the purchase in Russia of only new helicopters, that is, a batch of only 9 aircraft - Mi-35, Mi-17 and Ka-32.
Used Mi-35s will be purchased, apparently, from Cyprus and not entirely in liquid condition. The Cypriot National Guard received helicopters back in 2001, which have already undergone a major overhaul and are now at the end of their careers in the truest sense of the word. The average cost of each Mi-35 from Cyprus is close to $25 million, which is comparable to the cost of a new aircraft.
For comparison: a few years ago, 12 helicopters worth $150 million were delivered to the Brazilian Air Force.
But Brazil is clearly not Serbia, and brand new Mi-35s would leave the Rostov aircraft plant for Belgrade with a noticeable discount. Or maybe with the traditional provision of credit for the purchase.
What is the reason for such illogicality of Vučić?
After all, he simply loses money on unprofitable contracts.
I have never read Ukrainian libels about the extremely low quality of Mi-35s serving in the Brazilian Air Force. For example, about the fact that Russian vehicles can fire anti-tank missiles only from the left pylon, and unguided projectiles can only leave the guides from both sides at the same time.
Or he was afraid of a long waiting period - the Brazilians received twelve helicopters within five years from 2009 to 2014. Natural cunning suggested to Vučić that it was better to buy Russian helicopters, but second-hand from a foreign seller.
On paper, everything will be beautiful - 20 cars are produced in Russia and the necessary degree of loyalty, according to the president, has been preserved. You can also hope for a free upgrade.
Will the Russians really refuse to bring the dying helicopters of the Serbian Air Force into combat readiness?
And the leadership of Serbia is accustomed to gifts.
Russian military-technical assistance since 2018 has been expressed in four Mi-35 helicopters, three Mi-17 helicopters, six MiG-29 helicopters, thirty tanks T-72 and thirty - BRDM-2.
Help implies not only a significant discount, but completely free deliveries.
With money saved
“This is a salvation for us, there will be no problems with electricity, gas and heating,”
- this is how President Vucic assessed the signing of an extremely profitable gas contract with Russia last year.
Now blue fuel goes to the Balkan country at a price of $270 per thousand cubic meters. Compare this with the costs of Europeans, who are forced to pay 1200-1800 dollars for the same amount of fuel. At the same time, gas for the Serbs will not rise in price in principle in the foreseeable future.
And with the proceeds, the leadership of Serbia decided to buy combat helicopters.
The Cypriot Mi-35s will not only replenish the “aircraft” fleet, but will also save the islanders from obsolete equipment. And this, of course, is a reason for Cyprus to purchase new equipment, and, given the current situation, it will not be of Russian origin at all.
This is how, albeit indirectly, Belgrade supported the helicopter companies of NATO countries with Russian money.
But why only indirectly?
Vučić plans to purchase eleven completely NATO Airbus H-145s, each of which will cost 4-5 million dollars.
The machine is proven, with not the most outstanding flight characteristics, but familiar to the Serbs - the Air Force already has five of these helicopters. The Airbus H-145, although it belongs to multi-purpose helicopters, is, in fact, a civilian vehicle capable of only police functions.
It would be possible to calmly look at the acquisition of NATO helicopters by Serbia if analogues were not produced in Russia.
But Moscow has the Ansat and the Ka-226, which are similar in many respects to a European helicopter. However, Vučić's choice fell on the H-145 batch.
However, honestly, what can we talk about if the Russians themselves once bought the Airbus H-145 for the country's Ministry of Emergency Situations?
And the Special Flight Detachment has a lot of Airbus equipment. Themselves are so-so patriots, but we demand something from the Serbs.
Now the situation has improved, and the portfolio of orders for Ansat already has several dozen domestic contracts. China has already purchased 20 Kazan helicopters for its disaster medicine, each of which cost about $6 million. But this is a medical configuration with an expensive rescue module - for the Serbs, there would certainly be a loophole to reduce the cost.
If we discard all conventions and be guided solely by the principle of "only business and nothing personal", then President Vucic can be understood. He is very reluctant to spoil relations with European neighbors, completely switching over to the purchase of Russian equipment.
Despite the fact that the volume of Serbian purchases is not amazing, it is still a help for manufacturers of equipment from NATO countries. Especially in the corona crisis.
Vučić is clearly diversifying his own armed forces, saturating himself with motley equipment.
The United States and Europe can put pressure on one happy moment, and the country will still impose sanctions against Russia. Then you can forget about the supply of spare parts and maintenance of equipment. Therefore, the Serbs buy Airbus, albeit with the money saved on natural gas.
Serbia is also afraid to swear at Russia - too many bonuses have been arriving from Moscow lately. Therefore, for the time being, those very “Miles and Kamovs” are present in the plans of the president.
By the way, Vučić announced his intention to buy a pair of Ka-36s a few days after the announcement of the first part of the plans, as if in pursuit - no conscience stuck or someone influenced. In any case, in the Serbian Air Force, Russian helicopters serve as an excellent reinsurance in case of aggravation of relations with the European Union.
And from this point of view, Vučić can be perfectly understood.
It is impossible to understand only contracts for natural gas at $270 per thousand cubic meters against the backdrop of such tricks.
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